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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. False peace will not ________________.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. saw — the tool
  4. last — to go on
  5. charge — electricity
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. branch — a division
  9. foot — a measure
  10. saw — the tool
  11. last — finally
  12. fine — all right
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. club — for golf
  15. charge — a price
  16. last — final
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. club — for dancing
  20. charge — in control
  21. fine — high quality
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. mine — for digging
  24. club — a group

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com